Classes of meeting participant interaction

• US 9,298,342 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Yajun, You, Yi, Zhu, Zhongping, Wee, Susie, Sun, Qibin
• Primary Examiner(s): El-Zoobi, Maria
• Application Number:
  US14/052,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20150085058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4015 where at least one of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. white board sharing, collaboration or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A technology for interacting with a collaborative videoconferencing environment is disclosed. A display having a substantially “L-shaped” configuration allows for display of collaborative materials and video of remote participants simultaneously, which provides for a more natural interaction for a meeting participant interacting with the collaborative materials. Meeting participants in the collaborative videoconferencing environment can be classified based on position with respect to the environment, or their likely interaction profile. The technology can configure a meeting experience based on the classification of the meeting participant.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

capturing first video data in a room using at least a first camera and second video data using at least a second camera, the room corresponding to at least a first zone and a second zone, the first zone being located between the second zone and a primary screen of the room, the first camera capable of capturing at least a substantial portion of a standing user located in the first zone, the second camera capable of capturing a user located in the second zone;

analyzing, by a processor, the first video data and the second video data to determine at least a first location of a first meeting participant of a video-conference and a second location of a second meeting participant of the video-conference;

determining, by the processor, first characteristics of at least the first meeting participant and second characteristics of at least the second meeting participant;

defining, by the processor, a first participant interaction class based on the first characteristics of at least the first meeting participant, and a second participant interaction class based on the second characteristics of at least the second meeting participant, wherein the first participant interaction class is associated with the first location of the first meeting participant and the second participant interaction class is associated with the second location of the second meeting participant; and

varying, by the processor, presentation of the video-conference based on at least one of the first participant interaction class or the second participant interaction class.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a first distance measured from the first location to the primary screen displaying the video conference is greater than a second distance measured from the second location to the primary screen displaying the video conference.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein varying presentation of the video-conference is based on the first participant interaction class, and includes at least one of:

presenting, on the primary screen, video content at a size selected based on the first distance, the size selected to enable a meeting participant located at the first location to view the video content;

presenting, on an audio output device, audio content at a volume selected based on the first distance, the volume selected to enable a meeting participant located at the first location to hear the audio content;

or

setting, an audio capturing device, to a sensitivity level selected based on the first distance, the sensitivity level selected to enable the audio capturing device to capture audio output by a meeting participant located at the first location.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein varying presentation of the video-conference is based on the second participant interaction class when a meeting participant located at the first location is using a mobile computing device to interact with the video-conference.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a first number of meeting participants located at the first location; and

determining a second number of meeting participants located at the second location, wherein varying presentation of the video-conference is based on the second participant interaction class when the second number of meeting participants is greater than the first number of meeting participants.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein varying presentation of the video-conference based on the second participant interaction class includes at least one of:

presenting, on the primary screen, video content at a size selected based on the second distance, the size selected to enable a meeting participant located at the second location to view the video content;

presenting, on an audio output device, audio content at a volume selected based on the second distance, the volume selected to enable a meeting participant located at the second location to hear the audio content;

or

setting, an audio capturing device, to a sensitivity level selected based on the first distance, the sensitivity level selected to enable the audio capturing device to capture audio output by a meeting participant located at the first location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first participant interaction class is associated with a mobile computing device used by at least one meeting participant located at the first location, and

varying presentation of the video-conference includes;

selecting a subset of video content presented on the primary screen of the video-conference for presentation on the mobile computing device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the subset of video content presented on the primary screen of the video-conference that is presented on the mobile computing device is selected based on a screen size associated with the mobile computing device.

9. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

capture first video data in a room using at least a first camera and second video data using at least a second camera, the room corresponding to at least a first zone and a second zone, the first zone being located between the second zone and a primary screen of the room, the first camera capable of capturing at least a substantial portion of a standing user located in the first zone, the second camera capable of capturing a user located in the second zone;

analyze the first video data and the second video data to determine at least a first location of a first meeting participant of a video-conference and a second location of a second meeting participant of the video-conference;

determine first characteristics of at least the first meeting participant and second characteristics of at least the second meeting participant;

identify a first participant interaction class based on the first characteristics of at least the first meeting participant, and a second participant interaction class based on the second characteristics of at least the second meeting participant, wherein the first participant interaction class is associated with the first location of the first meeting participant and the second participant interaction class is associated with the second location of the second meeting participant; and

vary presentation of the video-conference based on at least one of the first participant interaction class or the second participant interaction class.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a first distance measured from the first location to the primary screen displaying the video-conference is greater than a second distance measured from the second location to the primary screen displaying the video conference.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein varying presentation of the video-conference is based on the first participant interaction class, and includes at least one of:

presenting, on the primary screen, video content at a size selected based on the first distance, the size selected to enable a meeting participant located at the first location to view the video content;

presenting, on an audio output device, audio content at a volume selected based on the first distance, the volume selected to enable a meeting participant located at the first location to hear the audio content;

or

setting, an audio capturing device, to a sensitivity level selected based on the first distance, the sensitivity level selected to enable the audio capturing device to capture audio output by a meeting participant located at the first location.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein varying presentation of the video-conference is based on the second participant interaction class when a meeting participant located at the first location is using a mobile computing device to interact with the video-conference.

13. The system of claim 10, the instructions further causing the processor to:

determine a first number of meeting participants located at the first location; and

determine a second number of meeting participants located at the second location, wherein varying presentation of the video-conference is based on the second participant interaction class when the second number of meeting participants is greater than the first number of meeting participants.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein varying presentation of the video-conference based on the second participant interaction class includes at least one of:

presenting, on the primary screen, video content at a size selected based on the second distance, the size selected to enable a meeting participant located at the second location to view the video content;

presenting, on an audio output device, audio content at a volume selected based on the second distance, the volume selected to enable a meeting participant located at the second location to hear the audio content;

or

setting, an audio capturing device, to a sensitivity level selected based on the first distance, the sensitivity level selected to enable the audio capturing device to capture audio output by a meeting participant located at the first location.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to:

capture first video data in a room using at least a first camera and second video data using at least a second camera, the room corresponding to at least a first zone and a second zone, the first zone being located between the second zone and a primary screen of the room, the first camera capable of capturing at least a substantial portion of a standing user located in the first zone, the second camera capable of capturing a user located in the second zone;

analyze the first video data and the second video data to determine at least a first location of a first meeting participant of a video-conference and a second location of a second meeting participant of the video-conference;

determine first characteristics of at least the first meeting participant and second characteristics of at least the second meeting participant;

identify a first participant interaction class based on first characteristics of at least the first meeting participant, and a second meeting participant interaction class based on second characteristics of at least the second meeting participant, wherein the first participant interaction class is associated with the first location of the first meeting participant and the second participant interaction class is associated with the second location of the second meeting participant; and

vary presentation of the video-conference based on at least one of the first participant interaction class or the second participant interaction class.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein a first distance measured from the first location to the primary screen displaying the video conference is greater than a second distance measured from the second location to the primary screen displaying the video conference.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein varying presentation of the video-conference is based on the first participant interaction class, and includes at least one of:

presenting, on the primary screen, video content at a size selected based on the first distance, the size selected to enable a meeting participant located at the first location to view the video content;

presenting, on an audio output device, audio content at a volume selected based on the first distance, the volume selected to enable a meeting participant located at the first location to hear the audio content;

or

setting, an audio capturing device, to a sensitivity level selected based on the first distance, the sensitivity level selected to enable the audio capturing device to capture audio output by a meeting participant located at the first location.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein varying presentation of the video-conference is based on the second participant interaction class when a meeting participant located at the first location is using a mobile computing device to interact with the video-conference.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, the instructions further causing the computing device to:

determine a first number of meeting participants located at the first location; and

determine a second number of meeting participants located at the second location, wherein varying presentation of the video-conference is based on the second participant interaction class when the second number of meeting participants is greater than the first number of meeting participants.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein varying presentation of the video-conference based on the second participant interaction class includes at least one of:

presenting, on the primary screen, video content at a size selected based on the second distance, the size selected to enable a meeting participant located at the second location to view the video content;

presenting, on an audio output device, audio content at a volume selected based on the second distance, the volume selected to enable a meeting participant located at the second location to hear the audio content;

or

setting, an audio capturing device, to a sensitivity level selected based on the first distance, the sensitivity level selected to enable the audio capturing device to capture audio output by a meeting participant located at the first location.